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National Charter 

of the 

National Society of the Colonial 
Daughters of America 




National Charter 

of the 

National Society of the Colonial 
Daughters of America 




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K/Ui 30 12Z3 



COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY. 

Office of the 
Secretary of State. 

CERTIFICATE 

I, FRED A. VAUGHAN, Secretary of 
State for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, 
do certify that the foregoing writing has 
been carefully compared by me with the 
original record thereof, now in my official 
custody as Secretary of State and remain- 
ing on file in my office, and found to be a 
true and correct copy of the Amendment to 
the Articles of Incorporation of the 
"SOCIETY OF COLONIAL DAUGHTERS". 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have here- 
unto set my hand and affixed my official 
seal. 

Done at Frankfort this 23rd day of 
August, 1920. 

FRED A. VAUGHAN, 

Secretary of State. 
R. LEE STEWART. 
(SEAL) Asst. Sec'y of State. 



The National Society 

of 

aughters of Founders and Patriots 

of 

America* 



CONSTITUTION. 

Amended 
J908 






dbartet* 



Washington, D. C, June 7, 1898. 

We, the undersigned, the majority being resi- 
dent in the District of Cokuiibia, hereby certify 
that Eugenia Washington, Helen M. Boynton and 
Pella H. Mason have associated themselves to- 
gether and founded a perpetual society to be 
known as the National Society of Daughters of 
Founders and Patriots of America. The objects 
of the Society are : To preserve the history of 
Colonial and Revolutionary times, to inculcate 
patriotism in the present generation, and in times 
of war to obtain and forward supplies for field 
hospitals. 

The number of its directors for the first and all 
succeeding years is : Nine active officers and nine 
councillors. 

Signed : 

Eugenia Washington, 
Helen M. Boynton, 
Pella H. Mason. 

Notary Public for the District, 

Thomas E. Roach. 

Notary Public for Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

William W. Wight. 



JCnnhi All Mm 

THAT the undersigned, being 
more than two-thirds of the of- 
ficers of the "SOCIETY OF 
COLONIAL DAUGHTERS" and be- 
ing hereunto duly authorized, do 
hereby amend the Articles of Incor- 
poration of the "SOCIETY OF 
COLONIAL DAUGHTERS" dated 
May 7, 1907, as same appear in Cor- 
poration Book No. 3, page 383, of 
the records in the County Court 
Clerk's office in Newport, Kentucky, 
as follows: 

The name of said corporation is 
hereby declared to be the "NATION- 
AL SOCIETY OF THE COLONIAL 
DAUGHTERS OF AMERICA" in- 
stead and in lieu of said name as ap- 
pears in said original articles. 

Witness the hands of F. May Wash- 
ington, Secretary-General; Georgena 
H. Bailey, Registrar-General; Ann 



Taylor Hodge, Chairman - General; 
Mrs. Thos. P. Carothers, Historian- 
General, and Mary Florence Taney, 
President-General, who are the re- 
spective officers of said corporation 
and more than two-thirds of the of- 
ficers of said corporation and who 
are hereunto duly authorized by 
resolution at a regular meeting of 
said corporation. 

F. MAY WASHINGTON, 

Secretary-General. 
ANN TAYLOR HODGE. 

Chairman-General. 
GEORGENA H. BAILEY, 

Registrar-General. 
MARY FLORENCE TANEY, 

President-General. 
MRS. THOS. P. CAROTHERS, 

Historian-General. 
Copyright 1920. 



COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, 
CAMPBELL COUNTY. 

I, Fred B. Bassmann, a Notary Public 
in and for said County and State, do cer- 
tify that the foregoing amendment to the 
Articles of Incorporation of The Society of 
Colonial Daughters, was this day produced 
to me in said County and State and ac- 
knowledged by F. May Washington, Secre- 
tary-General, Ann Taylor Hodge, Chairman- 
General, Georgena H. Bailey, Registrar- 
General, and Mrs. Thos. P. Carothers, His- 
torian-General, to be their act and deed. 

WITNESS my hand and seal of office, 
this 26th day of July, 1920. 

FRED B. BASSMAN, 

Notary Public in and 
(SEAL) for Campbell County ,Ky. 

My Commission expires 
February 11, 1924. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

I, Orren Wilson, a Notary Public in and 
for said County and State, do certify that 
the foregoing amendment to the Articles 
of Incorporation of The Society of Colonial 
Daughters, was this day produced to me 
in said County and State, and acknowledged 
by Mary Florence Taney, President-General, 
to be her act and deed. 

ORREN WILSON, 

(SEAL) Notary Public. 

My Commission expires 
October 28th, 1923. 



STATE OF KENTUCKY, ) 
CAMPBELL COUNTY. f ' ^ ' 

I, William Milius, Clerk of the County 
Court in and for the County aforesaid, do 
hereby certify that the foregoing Amend- 
ed Articles of Incorporation of The Society 
of Colonial Daughters were, on the 29th 
day of July, 1920, presented to me in my 
office, certified as above and lodged for 
record. 

Whereupon, the same, the foregoing cer- 
tificates and this certificate are duly re- 
corded in my office. 

Given under my hand and seal of office, 
this 29th day of July, 1920. 

WILLIAM MILIUS, 

Clerk. 

(SEAL) By H. R. OWEN, 

Deputy Clerk. 



STATE OF KENTUCKY. ) 
CAMPBELL COUNTY, f *^ * 

I, William Milius, Clerk of the County 
Court in and for the County aforesaid, do 
hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, 
complete and entire copy of the Amended 
Articles of Incorporation of The Society of 
Colonial Daughters, as appears of record in 
my office. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I William 
Milius, Clerk of the County Court of Camp- 
bell County, hereunto set my hand and seal 
of office, this 29th day of July, 1920. 
WILLIAM MILIUS. 

Clerk. 

(SEAL) By H. R. OWEN, 

Deputy Clerk. 



(tonetitution. 

ARTICLE I. 

Name. 

This organization shall be known as the Na- 
tional Society of Daughters of Founders and 
Patriots of America. 

ARTICLE II. 

Objects. 

Section i. To associate congenial women whose 
ancestors struggled together for life, liberty, home 
and happiness in this land when it was a new and 
unknown country, and whose lines of descent 
come through patriots who sustained the Colonies 
in the struggle for independence in the Revolu- 
tionary War. 

Sec. 2. To teach reverent regard for the names 
and history, character, deeds and heroism of the 
founders of this country and their patriotic de- 
scendants and to inculcate patriotism in the pres- 
ent and succeeding generations. 

Sec. 3. To discover and preserve family records 
and history otherwise unwritten and unknown, of 
the first Colonists, their ancestors and descend- 
ants. 

Sec. 4. To commemorate events of the history 
of the Colonies and of the Republic, and in times 
of war to obtain and forward supplies for field 
hospitals. 

Sec. 5. To meet together for debate on current 
ev^ents, criticism of books, historical purposes, 
and for social enjoyment. 



ARTICLE III. 
Membership. 

Section i. Eligibility for membership is founded 
upon descent from patriotic ancestry in unbroken 
line through the Colonial times and the Revolu- 
tionary War. 

Sec. 2. Any woman, above the age of eighteen 
years, of good moral character and reputation, is 
eligible to membership, provided that she is de- 
scended in the direct paternal line of either father 
or mother from an ancestor who settled in any of 
the Colonies now included in the United States of 
America, from the settlement of Jamestown, Va., 
May 13, 1607, to May 13, 1687, and provided that 
the intermediate ancestor in said direct line, at 
the call of the Colonists adhered as a patriot to 
their cause, in the Revolutionary War, which 
ended with the independence of the Colonies. 

Sec. 3. No person shall be admitted without 
previous investigation and ascertainment of her 
qualifications for membership. 

Sec. 4. Every applicant must state residence and 
postoffice address and must be recommended by a 
member of the society personally known to her 
and by a person of good standing and reputation 
in her own city or town. 

"The application papers must be sent to the 
National Treasurer of the Society, together with 
fees and dues, and passed by her to the National 
Registrar, marked 'paid.' The paper must be ac- 
companied by such historical information concern- 
ing the Colonial ancestor, and the Revolutionary 
ancestor or ancestors of the applicant, as .shall 
prove unfaltering patriotism." 

The application shall be examined and reported 
to the Executive Committee, approved or disap- 
proved according to the laws of the Society. 



Election must be by the Executive Committee and 
by ballot. 

Three negative ballots shall reject the applicant 
unless it shall afterwards be found by the Execu- 
tive Committee that they were cast under entire 
misapprehension of the facts in the case. No 
negative ballot shall be cast without reasons there- 
for being given to the Executive Committee, or, 
names of persons or societies through whom the 
Executive Committee can obtain confirmation of 
objections. 

Sec. 5. Application papers must be sworn to 
before a notary and countersigned by a genealo- 
gist. Official proof of services must be furnished 
with the application ; also references to authorities 
quoted to show line of descent. 

Sec. 6. Any member desiring to resign must 
send written notice of her desire to the National 
Registrar and to the Registrar of the Chapter of 
which she is a member, and they shall notify the 
Executive Committee. Resignations shall not be 
accepted if the member is in arrears for dues. 

Sec. 7. The first eighteen accepted applicants 
shall constitute the charter members of the Na- 
tional Society. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Organization. 

Section i. The National Society shall consist 
of— 

(a) The General Court which shall be known 
as the general Court of the National Society and 
shall consist of the three Founders of the So- 
ciety, the eighteen actual officers and councillors 
of the National Society, and all past National 
Presidents and National Vice-Presidents, also all 
actual Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the sev- 
eral Chapters and one delegate from each Chapter 
of the Society, provided that each and all shall be 



at the same time members in good standing in 
the National Society. 

Should the President, Vice-President, or dele- 
gate of Chapter find it impossible to attend any 
meeting of the General Court, the President of 
the Chapter shall have power to appoint a sub- 
stitute for each. 

(^) A Chapter in each State, District or Ter- 
ritory of the United States, each of which prefixed 
with the name of the political division in which 

it is located, shall be known as the Chapter 

of the National Society of Daughters of Founders 
and Patriots of America. 

(c) Members at large, i. e., all applicants duly 
qualified under the Constitution and accepted by 
the National Society, who have not joined any 
Chapter of the Society. 

id) The Executive Committee, which shall con- 
sist of the Founders, and all actual National Offi- 
cers and National Councillors of the National 
Society, and all actual Presidents and Vice-Presi- 
dents of the Chapters. 

Sec. 2. The officers of the National Society 
shall be a National President, a National Vice- 
President, a National Recording Secretary, a 
National Corresponding Secretary, a National 
Registrar, a National Treasurer, a National 
Historian, a National Chaplain, and a National 
Color-Bearer, each to hold office for two years 
and until her successor is elected and installed. 

And nine National Councillors each to hold 
office for three years, three to be elected each 
year. All these officers shall be ex oMcio officers 
of the General Court, and shall be eligible for re- 
election at the expiration of any term of office. 

Sec, 3. Each Chapter must have not less than 
nine members who are also accepted members of 
the National Society. The titles of Chapter offi- 
cers shall be the same as those of the National 
Society save that the word National shall be 



omitted. Chapters shall elect officers and enact 
by-laws in accordance with the National Constitu- 
tion. They shall notify the National Recording 
Secretary of all such elections and forward to her 
a copy of the by-laws. 

Sec. 4. Chapters may retain half the annual 
dues and half the life membership fees for local' 
uses. 

Sec. 5. The General Court shall be held in tke 
city of Washington on the 13th day of May in 
each year, or, if that date occurs on Sunday, 
the meeting shall be held on the Wednesday fol- 
lowing. One-fifth of those answering the roll- 
call at the opening of the General Court shall 
constitute a quorum. 

ARTICLE V. 

Pozvers and Duties. 

Section i. The National Society shall have ju- 
risdiction over all questions of eligibility re- 
ferred to it by the National Registrar and over all 
elections to membership. It shall, upon applica- 
tion of any nine members of the Society residing 
in any State, District or Territory, in which no 
Chapter exists, constitute them and those whom 
they may admit pursuant to the laws of the 
Society, into a Chapter for the political district 
in which they lieside, and no Chapter shall be 
formed without authorization of the National So- 
ciety and in perfect accordance with the Consti- 
tution. It shall issue the insignia and have sole 
power of action in the National as distinct from 
the Chapter affairs of the Society. The General 
Court shall exercise the powers of the National 
Society. 

Sec. 2. The Executive Committee shall exercise 
the powers of the National Society between the 
meetings of the General Court, and shall render a 



written report in outline of its action to the latter 
body at each annual meeting. It shall meet once 
each month from October to May, inclusive, for 
the transaction of business. Seven shall constitute 
a quorum. The National President shall preside, 
or in her absence or disability the National Vice- 
President. In the absence or disability of both, 
one of the nine National Councillors shall be 
elected to preside. 

Sec. 3. The National President, or in her ab- 
sence the National Vice-President, shall preside at 
all meetings of the General Court. In the absence 
of both, one of the nine National Councillors shall 
be elected to preside. 

The National President shall be a member 
ex-oMcio of all committees and shall have power 
to convene the General Court at her discretion or 
upon the written request of twelve members of 
the Society. 

The National Recording Secretary shall keep 
a record of all meetings of the Society, have 
charge of the seal, and give due notice of time of 
the holding of the General Court. She shall have 
charge of all documents and records of the Society 
•excepting those required to be deposited with the 
National Registrar. 

The National Corresponding Secretary shall 
"attend to all correspondence of the Society, per- 
form such other duties at may be directed by the 
General Court, and distribute supplies as directed 
by the Executive Committee. 

The National Registrar shall have custody of 
all applications for membership. She shall exam- 
ing, approve, or disapprove and certify them in 
the order in which they are presented, and report 
to the General Court or to the Executive Com- 
mittee. She shall keep a record of the name of 
each applicant and of dates of application, election, 
resignation and death of members. 

The National Treasurer shall collect all the 

8 



funds and securities of tiie Society and deposit 
them in a National bank to the credit of the Na- 
tional Society. She shall pay out such sums as 
the General Court or the Executive Committee 
shall order, keeping a full book account of re- 
ceipts and disbursements, and render a detailed 
statement at each annual meeting of all funds re- 
ceived, expended and on hand. The books of the 
National Treasurer shall be balanced each month, 
and shall at all times be open to the inspection 
of the General Court or its appointed representa- 
tive. No debts shall be contracted in the name of 
the Society except the ordinary current expenses. 

The National Historian shall keep a record of 
all historical celebrations of the Society, prepare 
for publication any papers it may see fit to pub- 
lish, and write each year in outline its history 
and achievements. 

The National Color-Bearer shall unfurl and 
raise the Flag at each meeting of the General 
Court immediately before the roll call, and each 
member in responding to her name shall rise and 
raise the right hand in token of allegiance. 

The Registrar, two Secretaries, Treasurer, and 
National Historian shall furnish from their rec- 
ords any needed information to the General Court 
or the Executive Committee. 

ARTICLE VI. 

Election of OMcers. 

Section i. The officers of the National Society 
shall be elected by ballot by a majority vote at the 
General Court. Vacancies occurring during the 
year may be filled for the remaining part of that 
year by appointment, such appointment to be made 
by the Executive Committee. 

Sec. 2. No vote shall be pledged beforehand, 
and no vote shall be taken on general questions 



affecting the Society, until there has been an op- 
portunity for full and free debate thereon. 

Sec. 3. Party politics and forms of religion shall 
not enter into elections. 

ARTICLE VII. 

Section i. The initiation fee shall be one dollar 
and the annual dues one dollar. This amount 
must be sent with application paper to the Nation- 
al Treasurer. Thereafter the annual dues must be 
paid to the National Treasurer each year, on or 
before the ist of May. Application and money 
will be returned if applicant is not elected. 

Sec. 2. The payment of twenty dollars shall 
constitute a life membership and shall release 
from all claims for dues thereafter. The name 
of any member who shall be one year in arrears, 
and shall fail, after proper notice, to pay the same 
within sixty days, shall be dropped from the 
roll. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

Alterations and Amendments. 

Section i. No alterations of, or amendments to, 
this Constitution can be made during the period 
,betv/een the date of its adoption, June 7, 1898, 
and five years thereafter, and after any alteration 
or amendment, a period of five years shall inter- 
vene before further alteration or amendment, and 
no alteration or amendment shall be made at any 
time unless adopted by a three-quarters yote of 
the entire number of votes cast. 

Sec. 2. The General Court or the Executive 
Committee, or any Chapter of the Society, may 
propose an amendment or alteration, and action 
thereon shall be as follows : The National Cor- 
responding Secretary shall send a copy of the pro- 
posed amendment, stating the source from which 

n 



it emanated, to each Chapter and member-at- 
large of the Society, at least three moHths be- 
fore the next General Court. 

Each Chapter shall forward to the Executive 
Committee its total vote pro and con, and these 
votes, together with the votes of the members-at- 
large, shall be arranged in tabulated form by the 
Executive Committee, showing the total vote of 
the National Society pro and con, and such tabu- 
lated form shall be formally presented at the ensu- 
ing General Court and the result formally an- 
nounced. Due notice of such result shall be 
mailed to each Chapter of the Society and to each 
member-at-large. 

ARTICLE IX. 
Order of Business for General Court. 

1. Roll Call — Salutation to the Flag. 

2. The Lord's Prayer in concert. 

3. Reading and approval of the minutes of the 

last meeting. 

4. Report of Executive Committee. 

5. Report of National Recording Secretary. 

6. Report of National Corresponding Secretary. 

7. Report of National Registrar. 

8. Report of National Treasurer. 

9. Report of National Historian. 

10. Election of Officers. 

11. New business. 

12. The Star Spangled Banner. 

ARTICLE X. 
Motto. 

A PATRIA CONDITA. 

(From the founding of the country.) 



ARTICLE XI. 

Insignia. 

The Insignia is patented, and if obtained in 
any other way than upon written order of the 
National Registrar, will be illegal and unconstitu- 
tional, and any ornamentation or elaboration of 
the insignia other than that herein described shall 
be a violation of the spirit and the letter of this 
Constitution. 

Obverse. 




The insignia of the Society is formed by the 
combination of a gold, eight-pointed star in blue 
enamel, outlined in white, arranged to accommo- 
date eight small stars of red enamel, stars appear- 
ing between the points. These stars represent the 
eight provinces or settlements of America, prior 
to i6s7, to wit: Virginia, New York, Massa- 
chusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maryland, 
Rhode Island, and Jersey. In the centre of the 
jewel, in relief, a colonist and a continental soldier 

12 



are depicted. Surrounding these is a blue enamel 
band upon which appear the words Daughters of 
Founders and Patriots of America 1607- 1898, i" 
letters and figures of gold. This in turn, is en- 
circled by a wreath of laurel. 

Reverse. 




The reverse shows an American eagle grasping 
a laurel branch and bunch of arrows and upon its 
breast a shield of red enamel, upon which the 
letters D. F. and P. appear in gold. The eagle is 
surrounded by a white enamel circle containing 
the motto of the Society, "a patria condita," in 
gold letters. 

ARTICLE XII. 

Colors. 



wide, divided equally into three colors — red, buflF, 
and blue. 



13 



ARTICLE XIII. 

Seal. 




The seal of the Society is 2 inches wide, con- 
taining the legend, The National Society o: 
Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America 
in a circle — the center represents A. M. Willard'< 
"The Spirit of yS," the Motto of the Society, ''A 
Patria Condita," appearing above the figures. 

ARTICLE XIV. 

Flag. 
The Star Spangled Banner. 



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g8 1 



